Business instruments



June 14, 1966 w. J. CUNNINGHAM 3,255,697

BUSINESS INSTRUMENTS Filedv OCt. 27, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 t 30 ElgiMull' l lulu NWT "f D2 ELSA.- 45 'H-DS 44 48 42 Inventor i. Wa Her J.Cunningham. l 40/ Lgm M 4l B wa Hace, Kl'nernnd 17am.

June 14, 1966 w. J. CUNNINGHAM 3,255,697

BUSINESS INSTRUMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 27, 96%

IIIIIIHI 'Il 'IIS Inventor' Walter J. Cunningham 5g wallacgKfnu and Dom.

Mornels United States Patent O 3,255,697 BUSINESS INSTRUMENTS Walter J.Cunningham, Toronto, ntario, Canada, as-

signor to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, andWilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 27, 1964, Ser.No. 406,812' Claims priority, application Canada, Dec. 24, 1963,

2 Claims. (l. lon-369) This invention relates to record keeping systemsand in particular to a business instrument that includes a formcomprising one or more sheets provided with space for entry of variabledata, and which also includes an embossed platte presenting permanentdata for making related imprints. The embossed plate is separablyattached to the =form sheet `in such a fashion that a special device orother special effort is required to effect a separation.- In otherwords, the embossed plate is secured to the Vform with assurance that itwill not become inadvertently separated, :and this is essential -inassuring that a particular plate will -always remain an integral part ofthe form with which it is related, rather than being separated :and lostin the course of handling business instruments of the character involvedunder -the present invention.

The business instrument of the .present invention fultlls an importantneed in a convenient, neat and inexpensive relationship. Thus, theembossed plate, which presents embossed type characters for making anynumber of permanent imprints from the business instrument, is of thin,tlexible, inexpensive plastic which Iadds little bulk or weight `to theform to which it is attached. Resultantly, the business instrument as awhole can be easily and expeditiously handled in the course of makingentries on the form portion thereof or in the course of presenting Itheattached plate to an imprinting machine incidental to making an imprinttherefrom.

The plate is attached to one sheet of the business form by light-weightdeformable retainers that are of such character and form as to protrudevery little from the business instrument. Consequently, neither theplate nor the retainer means associated 4therewith adds a great deal ofbulk to `the entire package that includes the form, land this enables ale of many such instruments to be ymaintained in a small space in spiteof the complexity of each instrument. Even so, if circumstances requirea change in the plate, as where the data embossed thereon are no longerapropos, then it is possibl to remove the retainers, incidential tosubstituting a different embossed plate, and without destroying the formsheet.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a business instrument contemplated bythe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the relationship of parts of such abusiness instrument;

FIG. 3 is a plan view `ot' the plate that is an element of the businessinstrument;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of one of the two identical retainers used tofasten the plate to the business form;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a device for attaching 1nd removing theaforesaid retainers;

FIG. 6 is a detail view illustrating the manner in which he aforesaiddevice is used to apply the fasteners; and

ICC

FIG. 7 is -a view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating the Way in which theaforesaid device is used toy remove the fasteners.

Referring to FIG. 1 of lthe drawings, a business instrument of thecharacter contemplated under the present invention is illustrated at asinclusive of a form 21 comprising one or more paper sheets 22 and 23,the latter in particular being provided with spaces 25 for the entry ofvariable data therein. Such data will be entered on the form from timeto time in the course of maintaining records with respect to aparticular transaction. Such entries, for example, may include datapertaining to the receipt or acknowledge of payment of insurancepremiums. Variable data of this character may also be represented byentries on or in the form sheet concerning transactions at a bank.

An embossed printing plate is part of the business instrument 20, and isseparably secured to one of the sheets of the form 21, the sheet 22 inthe present instance. This plate is of a thin, flexible, easily embossedmaterial, such as a high strength plastic. This embossed data 31appearing thereon present type faces for producing iml prints through acarbon sheet or the like on a record lplate 30 to the sheet 22 sheetthat is related to the same transaction that involves the entry of thevariable or time-to-time entries on the form sheet 23. Consequently thetype faces presented by the embossed characters 31 face outwardly of theouter face or side of the form sheet 22, The embossed data 31 arerelated to the overall transaction for which the business instrument isintended. For example, in the instance of insurance records, the data 31embossed on the plate 30 will at least identify the insured.

Thus, it will be seen that the business instrument in the presentinstance includes a form presenting a sheet as 22 to which the plate 30is attached. Business instruments of this character are, of course,subjected to somewhat frequent handling, particularly as this isnecessitated by repeated withdrawal from and insertion in the tiledrawer where the instrument is stored, the making of entries on the formsheet, and the production of repeated imprints made from the embosseddata 31 on the plate 30. Because of this, and because of the relativelyflimsy nature of the sheet 22, there is a need for separably attachingthe in such a fashion as to avoid to the greatest possible degree thelikelihood that the plate will become separated due to abusive handling.

This need is satisfied under the present invention by having resort toeasily deformable, lightweight retainers which are so configured anddimensioned as to enable the plate to be separably attached to the sheetwith ,assurance that the plate will not become detached except by resortto a `special effort or the special device hereinafter described. Thus,while a more or less permanent relationship is established between theplate 30 and the business form 21, purposeful disassociation can beachieved in order to enable a plate as 30 to be replaced as, forexample, when there is a change in address or the need for a change insome other as embossed type characters on the plate as 30.

In achieving the foregoing, the plate 30 is provided with a pair ofspaced openings 35', FIGS. 2 and 3. The sheet 22 of the form 21 to whichthe plate 30 is attached is also provided with a pair of spaced openings38, FIG. 2, which register with the openings 35 in the plate 30.

portion of the data that appear The various lopenings are of the samediameter for reasons apparent from the description to follow.

A pair `of retainers 40, FIGS. l, 2 and 4, each of identical form, areentered in the registered openings to separably secure the plate to oneof the sheets of the form 21. Each retainer is entered in the relatedpair of registered openings from the underside of the sheet 22, that is,the side of the sheet 22 opposite that where the plate 30 is presented,as hereinafter described in more detail in connection with the deviceillustrated in FIG. 5. However, it may here be noted that each retainer40 is of a light weight, easily deformable material such as thin,ilexible metal -or an equivalent form of high strength plastic.

Referring to FIG. 4, each retainer 40 includes a relatively wide liat,annular liange or base 41 which will bear against -the underside of thesheet 22 in engagement with that portion of the sheet surrounding therelated opening 38 therein. Resultantly, each retainer presents generouscontact with the sheet 22 so that the bordering portion yof the sheet 22(the portion of the sheet bordering the openings 38) resists thetendency for the retainers to be pulled through the sheet in the courseof severe handling of the business instrument as a whole.

Each retainer 40 includes a stub portion 42 projecting from one side ofthe llange 41. This stub portion 42 is of a thickness D `approximatelyequal to 4the combined thickness of the sheet 22 and the card 30, andthe diameter D1 thereof is approximately equal to the diameter of therelated opening in the card and the form sheet so as to easily ttherein.

The side of the retainer 40 opposite the flange 41 is deiined by anannular head 44 of trunco-conical lform. Thus, the head 44 has a beveledor tapered side 45 enabling the I*same to be easily forced through theregistered openings 35 and 38 even though the head y44 at its maximumdiameter D2 is slightly larger than the openings 35 and 38. Thus, thenarrow end of the head 44, as shown in FIG. 6 is of a diameter D3 justslightly smaller than the diameter of the opening 38 in the form sheetand the opening 35 in the card `so as to be easily entered therein.

The tapered or beveled face 45 of the narrow end of the retainer widensto affords a retainer lip 48, and the maximum diameter of this lip isjust slightly larger than the diameter of the related opening 35 in thecard 30. This relationship of parts enables each retainer 40 to, inelect, be snapped into place. Thus, upon exerting Sullicient pressure onthe retainer, the end 44 lof the retainer or fastener can be pressedeasily through the opening 38, and with difliculty through the opening35, so that the head 44 becomes exposed at the face of the card 30 wherethe embossed data appear. By exerting additional pressure, the annularedge portion of the plate 30 bordering each opening 35 therein is flexedor expanded sufliciently to enable the head 44 to be squeezed through,and ultimately the entirety of the tapered head 44 emerges at the frontof the plate 30, whereupon the circular edge portion of the plate 30that was expanded to admit the tapered head 44 contracts to its previousstate, being now confined by the lip 48. Resultantly, the lip 48concentrically surrounds a bit only of the immediate border of the card30 that defines the opening 35, and thereby the retainer 40 is eiectiveto lock the plate to the form sheet, but without the retainer havingundergone any permanent distortion.

An appreciable effort lis required to force the head por- `tion of theretainer through the opening in the plastic plate. Advantageously aretainer applying device of the character illustrated at 50 in FIG. 5may be advantageously employed, both in assembling and disassembling theretainers 40. Any equivalent device, tool, or set of tools can be used.

The device 50 comprises a flat base or bed 51 of a sheet of materialbent downward along the opposite sides, thereof to afford dependinganges 52 and 53 affording a stable support when the device 50' isresting on a table.

Advantageously, the lower edges of the legs 52 and 53 are covered by asoft material that will prevent scoring of the table top.

In assembling the retainers 40, a slide 55, retained at the underside ofthe base 51, is positioned so that a pair of assembly buttons 56 areregistered with corresponding openings 57 in the base 51 of the device50.

Referring to FIG. 6, the assembly buttons 56 protrude above the plane ofthe support bed 51. The card 30 is arranged with respect to the buttons56 so that the latter are entered in the openings 3S of the plate 30.The sheet 22 of the form 20 is related to the assembly buttons 56 in asimilar fashion. Thereafter, the retainers or fasteners 40 are set onnarrow ends 56A of the assembly buttons 56, these endsbeing sodimensioned as to neatly iit in the openings 40A that extend through theretainers 40 entirely from one side to the other.

It will be appreciated, as shown in FIG. 6, that the retainers 40 are sorelated to the assembly buttons 56 that the wide base or flange 41 ofeach retainer is uppermost. Resultantly, the narrow or head end 44 ofeach retainer rests on `a tapered shoulder portion 56B of the relatedassembly button in position to be forced into the registered openings ofthe sheet 22 and the card 30, in a manner that will now be described.

Thus, the handle 60 is manipulated to present to each retainer 40 thehead of a stud 61, FIG. 6, biased by aspring S, to press the retainers40 downwardly over the tapered ends of the assembly button 56 resultingin the retainer 40 being forced with a -sn-ap action through theregistered openings of the sheet 22 and the card 30 as noted above.

When it is desired to displace the retainers, the arrangementillustrated in FIG. 7 prevails. In this event, the form 2t) is reversed,and disassembly buttons 70 that are a part of the apparatus 60 arepositioned by a slide 55A so that narrow ends 71 thereof project intothe openings of the retainers 40, the latter being supported on ashoulder 71S that i's a part of each button 70, FIG. 6. The head 60 isthen manipulated so that a narrow projection 62S at the lower wide endof each of a pair of studs 62 will enter the ends of the retainers 40 atthe narrow sides thereof. Continued forcing eventually ejects theretainers 40, enabling the corresponding card 30 to be replaced.

I claim:

1. A business instrument comprising a form that is inclusive of at leastone paper sheet and a plate separably attached to one side of such asheet, said plate of ernbossable material having data formed thereon andhaving a retainer-receiving opening therein registering with an openingof similar `size in said sheet, said plate having a exible edge portionabout said retainer receiving opening for expansion and contraction tochange the sizeof said retainer receiving opening, said openingbeingexpanded when said edge portion is flexed and said opening beingcontracted when said edge portion is unllexed, Yand retainer meansentered in said registered openings and separably securing the plate tothe sheet, said retainer means having at one side a wide flat flangeengaging one side of said sheet in a generous portion that borders theopening therein so that the bordering portion of the sheet resists atendency to pull the retainer through the opening in the sheet, and saidretainer means having at the other side thereof a head presenting a lipjust slightly larger than the diameter of the opening in the plate suchthat the head in its normal state is forced through the openings in thesheet and plate to liex said edge portion and to expand said retainerreceiving opening in said plate to permit said head to move therethroughwhereupon said retainer receiving opening contracts, said flange and lipbeing interconnected by a stub portion having a length equalapproximately to the thickness of said plate and sheet, and with saidlip overhanging the plate only by the amount that the lip exceeds thediam- 5 eter of the opening when said retainer receiving opening2,633,080 is contracted in the plate. 2,693,756 2. An instrumentaccording to claim 1 wherein both 2,980,975 the plate and the retainerare of plastic. 3,019,152

. 5 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,255,6902/1918 Barlow 24 20s.2 1,646,413 10/1927 Lossmann 101-368 2,633,0793/1953 Curtis 10i-369 1 Seifried 101-369 Haig et al 10i-369 Jones 24-217Jones 24-217 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. DAVID KLEIN, Examiner.

`TANYCE A. BELL, Assistant Examiner.

1. A BUSINESS INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A FORM THAT IS INCLUSIVE OF AT LEASTONE PAPER SHEET AND A PLATE SEPARABLY ATTACHED TO ONE SIDE OF SUCHSHEET, SAID PLATE OF EMBOSSABLE MATERIAL HAVING DATA FORMED THEREON ANDHAVING A RETAINER-RECEIVING OPENING THEREIN REGISTERING WITH AND OPENINGOF SIMILAR SIZE IN SAID SHEET, SAID PLATE HAVING A FLEXIBLE EDGE PORTIONABOUT SAID RETAINER RECEIVING OPENING FOR EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION TOCHANGE THE SIZE OF SAID RETAINER RECEIVING OPENING, SAID OPENING BEINGEXPANDED WHEN SAID EDGE PORTION IS FLEXED AND SAID OPENING BEINGCONTRACTED WHEN SAID EDGE PORTION IS UNFLEXED, AND RETAINER MEANSENTERED IN SID REGISTERED OPENINGS AND SEPARABLY SECURING THE PLATE TOTHE SHEET, AND RETAINER MEANS HAVING AT ONE SIDE A WIDE FLAT FLANGEENGAGING ONE SIDE OF SAID SHEET IN A GENEROUS PORTION THAT BORDERS THEOPENING THEREIN SO THAT THE BORDERING PORTION OF THE SHEET RESISTS ATENDENCY TO PULL THE RETAINER THROUGH THE OPENING IN THE SHEET, AND SAIDRETAINER HAVING AT THE OTHER SIDE THEREOF A HEAD PRESENTING A LIP JUSTSLIGHTLY LARGER THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE OPENING IN THE PLATE SUCH THATTHE HEAD IN ITS NORMAL STATE IS FORCED THROUGH THE OPENINGS IN THE SHEETAND PLATE IS FORCED EDGE PORTION AND TO EXPAND SAID RETAINER RECEIVINGOPENING IN SAID PLATE TO PERMIT SAID HEAD TO MOVE THERETHROUGH WHEREUPONSAID RETAINER RECEIVING OPENINGS CONTRACTS, SAID FLANGE AND LIP BEINGINTERCONNECTED BY A STUB PORTION HAVING A LENGTH EQUAL APPROXIMATELY TOTHE THICKNESS OF SAID PLATE AND SHEET, AND WITH SAID LIP OVERHANGING THEPLATE ONLY BY THE AMOUNT THAT THE LIP EXCEEDS THE DIAMETER OF THEOPENING WHEN THE RETAINER RECEIVING OPENING IS CONTRACTED IN THE PLATE.